First Hand Experience of Hurricane Irma

WestSussexAddick

Bloody hell Pete that sounds like a nightmare. Good luck mate and stay safe.

SE7toSG3

Pete, I can only echo what others have said, from Georgie and me stay safe and remember your British (last bit in jest but we are thinking of you here). Keep us all updated mate.

newyorkaddick

Best of luck - puts things like football in perspective.

WSA

Thinking of you - take care.

se9addick

PeterGage said:

(Part three and current position as at 7pm UK time) . We have taken under our wing, a young UK Couple who are not coping well. We will share a room when the hurricane starts. We have stocked up with water, food, torch and sone beer and wine, the latter because we want to keep the mindset as near to normal as we can. We will barracade the window with our mattress and put all other moveable objects at floor level to minimise flying objects. We have a back up plan should the main window shatter, which is to decamp to the bathroom - it has no glass connection to the main room.

The position is surreal at the moment. The sun is shining and the air calm. The reality kicks in when you see local stores either closed or being boarded up. The game starts in approx 26 hours

I love British people - catastrophic hurricane coming "right, how much booze will we need to see us through this?"!

Stay safe, I hope the damage isn't as bad as predicted.

swords_alive

This is spooky. I was wondering how you were doing Peter, just 10 minutes before I found this thread. I can't really explain but I was thinking back to the trip to Belgium and ahead to the floodlit game against Wigan next Tuesday and about how its difficult in the present era to be missing these floodlit games, always something special, in the memory at least. You have gone to extremes to distract yourself for this one and Southend too! Good luck, and I look forward to your account on the other side.

ken_shabby

Just to echo whats been said, thinking of you (and everyone else in the storm path). It sounds like you have a good enough refuge you have. Hunker down and have a couple of beers. We're all with you.

Alex Wright

Stay safe Pete. Good luck for the next 48 hours.

Nug

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

SDAddick

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Has she been evacuated Nug?

limeygent

Sorry you're caught up in this. My son evacuated from the Stuart area to Jacksonville last night up Interstate 95, ( took him all night) and will still need to go further, he thinks. One problem is he has a dog with him, and few hotels will take pets. Like everyone else, we just have to cross our fingers and say our prayers. Latest I hear is that there will be strengthening back to a cat 5 before it comes ashore. Best of luck.

Nug

SDAddick said:

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Has she been evacuated Nug?

Not so far. The home is a new build, 2 storey. They have staff staying round the clock rather than shifts and will move everyone up to the 2nd floor if there is flooding. She has late stage Parkinsons so has limited mobility. Rather worrying. I guess my brother in law has rented a minivan and has filled it up in case of an emergency to get out of there, not quite sure what the f**k he's waiting for!

I would say she's safer in the care home though rather than at his house which I think will disappear if there's a direct hit to Naples, it's an older home, he also has a shipping container in his backyard which he uses as a workshop, can see that thing flying down the road. Sister in law is in Tampa, my inclination would have been to drive up there, expect the storm will have lost some power by the time it gets there.

Rob

You certainly drew the short straw when you booked this holiday. Good luck to you. Look on the bright side - you'll have a good story to tell your grandkids.

SDAddick

limeygent said:

Sorry you're caught up in this. My son evacuated from the Stuart area to Jacksonville last night up Interstate 95, ( took him all night) and will still need to go further, he thinks. One problem is he has a dog with him, and few hotels will take pets. Like everyone else, we just have to cross our fingers and say our prayers. Latest I hear is that there will be strengthening back to a cat 5 before it comes ashore. Best of luck.

Hope he's okay limey. Have friends making the journey north from Jax with kids and pets. They've posted lots of pictures of them just sitting on the highway.

limeygent

SDAddick said:

limeygent said:

Sorry you're caught up in this. My son evacuated from the Stuart area to Jacksonville last night up Interstate 95, ( took him all night) and will still need to go further, he thinks. One problem is he has a dog with him, and few hotels will take pets. Like everyone else, we just have to cross our fingers and say our prayers. Latest I hear is that there will be strengthening back to a cat 5 before it comes ashore. Best of luck.

Hope he's okay limey. Have friends making the journey north from Jax with kids and pets. They've posted lots of pictures of them just sitting on the highway.

Thanks SD, he's got a B&B in Savannah from tomorrow, hoping they don't get evacuated from there.

Davo55

Nug said:

SDAddick said:

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Has she been evacuated Nug?

Not so far. The home is a new build, 2 storey. They have staff staying round the clock rather than shifts and will move everyone up to the 2nd floor if there is flooding. She has late stage Parkinsons so has limited mobility. Rather worrying. I guess my brother in law has rented a minivan and has filled it up in case of an emergency to get out of there, not quite sure what the f**k he's waiting for!

I would say she's safer in the care home though rather than at his house which I think will disappear if there's a direct hit to Naples, it's an older home, he also has a shipping container in his backyard which he uses as a workshop, can see that thing flying down the road. Sister in law is in Tampa, my inclination would have been to drive up there, expect the storm will have lost some power by the time it gets there.

Hope your family are ok @Nug

You and your wife and son safely at home in England, I hope?

cabbles

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Hope your family stay safe Nug

Nug

Davo55 said:

Nug said:

SDAddick said:

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Has she been evacuated Nug?

Not so far. The home is a new build, 2 storey. They have staff staying round the clock rather than shifts and will move everyone up to the 2nd floor if there is flooding. She has late stage Parkinsons so has limited mobility. Rather worrying. I guess my brother in law has rented a minivan and has filled it up in case of an emergency to get out of there, not quite sure what the f**k he's waiting for!

I would say she's safer in the care home though rather than at his house which I think will disappear if there's a direct hit to Naples, it's an older home, he also has a shipping container in his backyard which he uses as a workshop, can see that thing flying down the road. Sister in law is in Tampa, my inclination would have been to drive up there, expect the storm will have lost some power by the time it gets there.

Hope your family are ok @Nug

You and your wife and son safely at home in England, I hope?

Yes they all got back a week ago thanks. My Mrs is beside herself at the moment though with the latest predicted path. I expect as they wake up over there this morning they may have a rethink although it's likely too late to move anywhere now.

PragueAddick

It is amazing how different the hurricane story seems, when you read this thread and how it is affecting people that you feel you have come to know. Every time I hear the updates now I am thinking of you guys and your families, and hoping for th very best outcomes for you all. Please keep us updated. It is rather humbling to read, in the comfort of our hurricane and earthquake free homes.

Solidgone

This is what happens when you book holidays during the football season ;0)

A friend was due to fly out to Miami on Thursday. BA rebooked the flight for next week but if Jose decides to take the same direction as Irma I doubt whether this flight will go ahead.

It's all very very frightening.
Best of luck to all those out there.

southamptonaddick

My nephew and his family live in Fort Myers and have boarded up and are staying in there home. They have also said how calm the weather is and it all feels so surreal.

Hope everyone stays safe.

Nug

southamptonaddick said:

My nephew and his family live in Fort Myers and have boarded up and are staying in there home. They have also said how calm the weather is and it all feels so surreal.

Hope everyone stays safe.

Good luck to them that's also right in line to get a hit.

johnnybev1987

Thank you for sharing your story, i know this must be a nerve wracking time but it puts things into perspective. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope of the back of this you will look back on it as an experience.

Keep Safe Peter

Robbo on the wing

Man up.
I remember having a full on wind/rain experience one winter night standing on the small terrace between the north and west stand whilst watching some old dross.
Then having to repeat the experience whilst standing having a slash up against the Floyd Road toilet wall.
That is what you call harrowing.

limeygent

southamptonaddick said:

My nephew and his family live in Fort Myers and have boarded up and are staying in there home. They have also said how calm the weather is and it all feels so surreal.

Hope everyone stays safe.

I hope they evacuate, likely a direct hit there.

ken_shabby

According to CNN, there is still time to get out, and the roads are fairly clear. Sounds like Miami won't see the worst now. Stau safe people.

SDAddick

Nug said:

SDAddick said:

Nug said:

Glad you have found a place Peter and supporting some others.

Most up to date forecast has Naples on the gulf coast taking a direct hit and in fact the water below the Keys is the warmest in the Atlantic and is expected to fuel the hurricane before it hits Florida. Very worried for my mother in law who lives there in a care home. Storm surge is supposed to hit at high tide on Sunday.

Has she been evacuated Nug?

Not so far. The home is a new build, 2 storey. They have staff staying round the clock rather than shifts and will move everyone up to the 2nd floor if there is flooding. She has late stage Parkinsons so has limited mobility. Rather worrying. I guess my brother in law has rented a minivan and has filled it up in case of an emergency to get out of there, not quite sure what the f**k he's waiting for!

I would say she's safer in the care home though rather than at his house which I think will disappear if there's a direct hit to Naples, it's an older home, he also has a shipping container in his backyard which he uses as a workshop, can see that thing flying down the road. Sister in law is in Tampa, my inclination would have been to drive up there, expect the storm will have lost some power by the time it gets there.

Ugh man that's so tough. Yeah it sounds like she's in the best place she can be by and large.

Limey I hope your son is good in Savanah and by the time Irma makes it up there she had weakened considerably.

Southampton hoping for the best for your family as well. Hopefully they're listening to local officials when they make their decision to stay.

It's so harrowing to think of so many people with families in the way of this thing, let alone Peter being in the middle of it. Just sitting here it's so surreal to think that as this thing hits land and moves north it will hit the CL extended family, from Peter and Nug and Southampton's family in the south, to my close friends and Nug's brother in law in Tampa, then I still have a lot of friends in Gainesville (where they're preparing for a lot of rain and wind but hopefully should be okay overall), then up to limey's son in Savanah, and I have good mates and family in Atlanta too but I think they'll be ok. Apologies if I've missed anyone out.

Thinking of everyone and their loved ones.

Badger

Pete, Good luck.

limeygent

No way should anyone who has the chance to evacuate try to ride this thing out.

North Lower Neil

Best of luck Pete, stay safe mate.